A Focus On The Biafra Agitation
Since after the war, due to the marginalisation of the zone in terms of dearth of federal infrastructure and appointments, there has been unending agitation for the creation of the state of Biafra as a national entity, in reference to the entity which seceded from Nigeria, under the leadership of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a former Colonel of the Nigerian Army.
Organisations like the Movement of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) under the leadership of Ralf Uwazuruike, and now the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), headed by Nnamdi Kanu, have continued to mount pressure on the federal government, for the state of Biafra to be carved out of Nigeria, a demand which has not received a favourable listening by the authorities.
With the recent release of Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader from a long detention on very stringent bail condition and the continued demand for the creation of Biafra, the question that has been bothering Nigerians is: Should the government allow Ndigbo (South East) to secede and be an independent nation if they really want to.
The Issue Should Be Critically Looked Into – Don
Peter Iyeke, Mass Communication lecturer, in this response, maintained that although the agitation of the Igbo has been going on for over 40 years, it should not be looked into critically to know if there are some wisdom in it.
Iyeke wondered if there is no selfish motive in the agitation, but stressed that if the population of the country becomes too much, it could be difficult to govern.
He added: “For instance, West Germany and East Germany went apart until 1991, 1992 before the Berlin Wall was broken and they came back, because they saw the difference between the East and West Germany. If you go to Germany today, West Germany is more developed than East Germany..
“Then go to North and Southern Sudan, go to Eritrea and Ethiopia,
there are so many countries that have been agitating for separation.
But the Biafra agitators can try their luck and if they find out that
they cannot sustain it, there is nothing wrong in returning as the East
and West Germany did.”
Olu Omotayo, the President of Citizens Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) maintained that the issue of allowing Biafra to break away should not even arise, as mere protest cannot guarantee secession.
Omotayo, who did not see IPOB achieving more than MASSOB did in the struggle for Biafra, stressed: “I just see IPOB as a mere pressure group. During President Olusegun Obasanjo administration, we had MASSOB. MASSOB was better coordinated and focused in its agitation. It had solid structures, yet it could not achieve secession.
“I don’t see IPOB going beyond MASSOB. It is not a formidable group to talk about agitation. It is an exaggeration. Mere protest cannot guarantee Biafra.”
Ndigbo Can Go, But… -Activist
Alagoa Morris, a Niger Delta rights activist, said that the quest by the Igbo or any other ethnic group in the country to secede is in consonance with the principles of self-determination.
He highlighted some of the factors that are responsible for the agitations for a break away to include lack of rule of law, unequal rights, injustice, bad governance and abuse of democratic norms.
Morris, head of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Bayelsa State office, said there is nothing wrong for a section to separate from the federation and become a Republic, given the prevailing social, economic and political conditions in the country.
Morris said the Igbo should be allowed to separate from the country only after proper delineation of boundaries and the rights of others in an area, who would not want to support secession, had been guaranteed.
Biafra Agitation Is Constitutional – Activist
Comrade Damian Ogudike, Public Relations Officer of Congress of Civil Society Groups, Anambra State stated that the agitations of the South South and South East are enshrined in the constitution and the United Nation Charter.
He stressed that there is a clause that indigenous people have the right to leave if they no longer want to stay in their country and Nigeria is covered of the United Nation.
According to him, even the courts have declared the agitations as legal, adding that it is the duty of the government to conduct referendum to ascertain their opinions, if not, the Nigeria nation state may remain in shambles.
He pleaded with security agencies to stop terrorizing the agitators. He said: “I have seen IPOB members and they are so peaceful in the content of their rights ethics. So far, they are non-violent. I also appeal to agitators to remain non-violent. As long as they follow the lay down rule as articulated in the UN charter, they are free,” he concluded.
‘The Agitation Portends Danger’
Ayo Adesopo, Professor of Public Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, maintained that the trend portends danger and advised the government against it.
Adesopo cautioned that should the government welcome the agitation and allow it, other regions may start similar agitation to the extent that the government will have no choice but to comply and that may be the beginning of disintegration of the giant of Africa, called Nigeria.
He maintained that although it is the right of a people to agitate for self-determination, “the consequences is great as country may not be the same again,” even as he described the demand as sectional, as not all Igbo are involved in the demand because they are scattered across the states and world.
Adesopo stated that even if the government wants to entertain it, the processes to follow are so cumbersome that the country cannot handle it without it degenerating into political upheaval.
He maintained that the review the constitution by the National Assembly has been so difficult, how much more the issue of carving out a part of the country as separate entity, which may lead to chaos.
Agnes Nneka Uzozie, a cleric, maintained that South East believes in the corporate existence and unity of this Nigeria, especially as Ndigbo have chains of businesses all over the country.
She stressed: “However, we cannot say that we are being fairly treated by the federal government and even by our neighbours. To this extent, I support those clamouring for a sovereign state of Biafra.”
Johnson Mbadike Osuji, a Second Republic politician maintained that any Igbo who has a contrary view on the agitation of the Biafra state is not a true Igbo man and his ‘Igboness’ should be doubted. He added: “Our secession is long overdue because there is a thick conspiracy to drive us to extinction in this country.
“The marginalisation of Ndigbo in the scheme of things is unspeakable and when we voice out our grievances, the powers-that-be descend on us. How old were you when the now late Chief Sam Mbakwe was governor? He saw what was happening and voiced out vociferously against this.
“But, he was derided and scorned, and was called a weeping governor. They should allow us to go because from all indications, we are no longer wanted in this country and we are aware of this.
“Nnamdi Kanu was thrown into jail for pursuing a popular course. Look at the harsh bail conditions handed down on him before he was released from detention.”
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